All weekend Mark was talking about a "rash" that he saw forming on his back. I kept telling him that if it got worse, he should go to the doctor - but he kept saying, "I'm just waiting to see if it'll go away..." :P Men...

On Monday night when he picked me up from the airport, he was complaining about being in pain... When we got home, he took off his shirt to change, and that's when I saw it -- dozens of red welts all over his back and side!! I insisted that I take him to the emergency room and after MUCH arguing he finally let me drive him there...

Much like his centipede bite years ago, he kept refusing to have it checked out until I literally had to drag him to the ER. And most of the way there, he kept complaining about going... What is it about men that doesn't allow them to admit that they need to see a doctor? (or ask for directions?) ;)

Well, turns out he has a bad case of shingles! :P Poor guy!! I wonder if I hadn't dragged him there, though would he have gone to the doctor on his own? Probably not ...Men! :P

Poor guy got antibiotics and other medication and will be home from work for at least a couple of weeks. Though I'm sorry he has shingles, I'd envisioned possibly worse so I'm thankful that he'll be alright - I just wish it didn't take an act of God to get him to see a doctor! :P

On a MUCH less important note, I got a total of 2 hours of sleep last night because of all the time I spent trying to convince Mark to have me take him to the ER and the actual waiting in the ER. And after getting off my 6 hour plane ride home from LA, going to my class tonight until about 9pm, and having to wake up at 4am to catch a plane to Maui for work tomorrow - I'm a bit incoherent and loopy right now. I can't, for the life of me, manage to catch up on my life...

As soon as I saw rash and pain, I did not need to read any further, I knew it was shingles. I hope Mark's pain isn't too bad and that he can try to get some rest. I'm just glad you got him to go to the ER. I wonder why shingles are hitting people younger and younger these days? I know people under 50 years of age can get them, but it's not as common. I hope he gets well soon and I hope you get some sleep. *hugs*

Thank you for your comment, Carrie!! Mark is doing okay - he's been home the past couple of days and has been resting - which he needs. Thanks so much for your well-wishes, I will definitely pass it along to him. HUGS!!

And I share his stupid-guy gene. The biggest argument we have ever had, after 17 years, is my refusal to go to the ER when I was entering a diabetic coma some 5 years ago. I snapped out of it long enough to hang up the phone on him, and threaten him. lol

Thank you so much, Sabine! I'm thankful he finally agreed to go to the ER, too. If he didn't, I might've actually tried to drag him into my car myself - though with the amount of sleep I had, I doubt I would've been successful at all... ;)

Oh no! You poor things - both of you! I hope the shingles start to improve; I know it can be very tough but he's very young so hopefully he'll heal quickly. You aren't likely to get it just because he has it, but if you ever do notice a similar rash starting, get to the doctor right away! The more quickly it's treated the better.

Meanwhile, I hope you get some rest in the next couple days - you really don't want to get run down and sick yourself now!

Thanks so much for your comment!! I've heard, though - which I'm afraid of - is that if your first round of chicken pox was mild (which mine was - and I was 24 when I got it...) that there's a high risk that you could get it a second time. Do you know if it's true?

Thankfully Mark has been resting a lot this week and is taking it very easy. :)

I really don't know, though my children had mild cases too. You should ask your doctor though, and also ask about the vaccine they have now for shingles. It's not usually used on people as young as you, but you could consider it.